Matomo (formerly Piwik) is an open‑source analytics platform that provides detailed visitor statistics for your website. On ruachost.com, you can integrate Matomo with WordPress either by using a plugin or by editing your theme directly.
Why Use Matomo?
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Full control over your analytics data (self‑hosted).
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GDPR‑compliant and privacy‑focused.
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Provides detailed visitor insights (traffic sources, search terms, conversions).
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Alternative to Google Analytics with no data sharing.
Method 1: Use a WordPress Plugin (Recommended)
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Install Matomo on your hosting account (via Softaculous or manual installation).
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Log in to WordPress as administrator.
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Go to Plugins → Add New.
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Search for WP‑Matomo (WP‑Piwik).
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Click Install Now, then Activate.
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Go to Settings → WP‑Piwik.
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Enter your Matomo URL (e.g.,
https://yourdomain.com/matomo). -
Enter your Auth Token (generated in Matomo under Administration → Personal → Security).
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Save changes → WordPress will now connect to Matomo.
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Enable tracking under Enable Tracking tab → Select Default tracking.
✅ You can now view visitor statistics directly in the WordPress dashboard.
Method 2: Edit the Theme Directly
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Log in to your Matomo account.
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Go to Administration → Websites → Tracking Code.
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Copy the full JavaScript tracking code.
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Log in to WordPress as administrator.
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Go to Appearance → Theme Editor → footer.php.
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Paste the tracking code just above the closing
</body>tag. -
Save changes.
✅ Matomo will now track all pages on your WordPress site.
Important Notes
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Editing the theme directly may cause changes to be lost during theme updates. Use a child theme to avoid this.
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Plugins are easier to manage and update, but may add slight overhead.
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Always test tracking after setup to confirm data is being collected.
